New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-28
THE SURPLUS PROBLEM.
CAN DEMOCRATIC STATESMEN SOLVE IT.
A SMALL TUB FOR THE RANDALL WHALE" SOME
THING MUST BE DONE TO SAVE THE PARTY"
BIZ TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrnrxup

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27-Of course the ch hief topcs OF
discussion among Senators and Represe tatives who
have arrived In Washington are the surplus revenue
and the means to be adopted to dispose of IT, Only
small minority Of either branch OF Congress IS hero
but the discussions are not less that
count, and from the contrariey Of Views already cx-
pressed It is apparent that the problem will not 10
easily readily solved The Democrats, who control
the House, anl therefore ponsble for revenue
legislation seem to be as badly muddled they were
two years ago They agreed on thing, namely.
that something must be done TO save the party next
year. for II noticeable that the they consider tht
result Of the late elections the less confident do they
feel of success
We have harmony :" Both wings must flap
together These things all Of them say, but that thero
Will be harmony" that both wings will flap to-
gcthcr." none Of them to believe. The that
any Of them hopes for pass some kind of
bill which Will be good enough Morgan until after
the Presidential election The recommendations OF tho
President and the secretary OF the Treasury will be
framed with that end in view, and the former will sign
any makeshift measure which may be to him tor
his approval.
RANDALL MASTER OF THE SITUATION.
1t IS settled that Carlisle IS to be elected Speaker
and that Mills Is TO he chairman OF the Ways ard
Means Committee. Mills IS a sincere and FREQ
Trader between whom and Randall there exists tho
most bitter antagoniSm. Nothing short of general
and radical revision OF the tariff free trade basis
would satisfy the Texan At his back stand five
sixths Of the Democrats in the House but they VIII have
to yield their convictions II anything is 10 be dono
the party The fact is that Randall is master
of the situation far the Democrats concerned,
both the President and Mr Carlisle realize H. To
any one who remembers the baughy refusal Of Car
Isle to allow vote on any proposition 10 reduce
internal in the last Congress, his present Oher TO
accept the abolition Of Internal taxes tobacco
except cigars and cigarettes-is almost comca. 1t Is
a pretty small tub throw tie Randall whale, how
evcrand II Will not satisfy him There is the best
to believe that MI Randalrs views have undergone 30
material since lie offered his Tarlh ahd internal
Revenue bi which was so coEtemptuously kicked out
by Coonel Morrison and his DEM
oeratic colleagues the last Congress That bill, 1t may
be remembered provided for the repeal OF all Internal
taxes oil tobacco, cigars etc. and alcohol used in
manufactures and the mechanic arts as well as for cer
tain notifications Of the tariff IL estimated tnas
his bill would reduce the revenues s4OOOO,OOO or
$4,000 OOO about $29, 100000 OF which would be on
account OF internal taxes.
Mr. Carlislss proposition to except cigars and cigar
cites would collection 100000
those forms OF tobacco, iucudIag the special
taxes paid by several hundred thousand wholesale and
retail dealers mainly Tor the benent of large maun
facturers OF course Mr. Randall never Will consents 10
that
CONFERENCE BETWEEN CZAR AND EMPEROR.
The Eretl.g Post and some free trade and Demo-
cratic newspapers say that "conierencc' Det"csn
Messrs Randall and Carlisle is to take place ths week
the way which has been paved by "a courteous
correspondence" begun by the latter with the know
edge OF the President possibly at his sugsesuon
Now this Is funny OF the circumstances. wOat
be funny II could forget the formal pondcnc,
gravey carried between the same statesmen IN
regard internal revenue legislation last winter
at a time when they together daily IL the House
Both OF them have been IN town for week.
Each knows the other lives Beside. only yester
day these two their respective rssms
at the apito FOR several hours not mere than hun
dred feet apart aud each knew that the other was In his
own room IL conference between these Democrats
leaders such mighty consequence that they cannot
meet any ether members OF the same party mgd5
without precedent courteous corrcspJndsnce VITA tho
knowledge OF the President aud possibly his sugges
ton ."
The thing IS at least ludcrous aud possibly ricu-
ous 1t is understood that Mr. Randall has
tied the White House since his arriNa- Mr.
Carlisle the contrary, has been in frc-
quent consultation with tue President and sccc-
tary Farchd. and Congressman scott OF Pennsylvania.
who was participant III the OAK View conference I?
which Mr.. Randall was not ihvited, Las DreA c!pNcet
twice with Mr.. Cleveland successive days II may
be reno nbersd that he voted Tor ae consideration ot
bill IN the last Congress lie ana ths COM
uS Xnt term, and II is whispered that he Is 10 have
cue Democratic vacancies IN that committee.
TARIFF THINKERS IN DOUBr
while Mills and many other sincere Free Traders in
sst that there shall be general revision OF the taf
to cheaper the nscessaTies OF life, one freIuestly
hears members OF that wing of the Democratic party
press the opinion such revision is practicable
erpedient on Of Presidential eicc-
ton. Occasionally enc Of them will be found WHO
does think It would be desirable. such man =.
Geneaal Cachngs. VI Misslssppi. whe is low wiling 10
vote for the repeal OF the tobacco and nut dts
utiiOns, although opposed 10 L Last winter, AM Tor
reductions OF tue customs revenue lie was not
ready specify the tarh changes which he wou.d APP
prove rather clear that "trce lumber Is Lot
one the things for which Mississippi yearns In tac'
he said he did not think r-moyaI 0 tho Lumber @'t
would bo desirable. because. said he we have very
Alter ali" he continued, you know that a col.i.
leaders In the House control th' mater ,i or
line an! iocm 'nsm W We de.d a. ItGs any ts c % say
Mr. Springer and some Other Democrats expect that
the report Of the secretary OF the treasury wi oc accom-
$50 100000 SlO00O0,o00 year ameng the prsvis-
ions be- the repeal Of the internal taxes On
tobacco with the Pons before named radical re-
duotion OF the duties on metals pottery ana edrthea
snd woolen goods ant the transfer Of sew
from the duti"hle list to the iree list on:
Administration bill" and Democrats who ought u TO
well informed assert very positively that such thing -
ourse of preparation and that II will 20 10 Congress
with the Presidents aen iation. IL may he that
Mr. Fairchd Is ambitious that the future legislator or
historian shal! occasion alton the "Farchd"
tarh well ss ths Walker tarih but Treasury peo-
been will be prepared for submission TO Congress
SOMETHING MUST Re DoNE-BuT wHAr'
Some Of Democrats who arc here have EXPIRE 'sed.
In general way their opinions 20 what may can. or
should be done this winter elect Reagan de-
csres that ho stands where he did last year
and for many years before; that is. whero
Colonel Mills stands but admits that something muso
be done" and that probably compromise will ba
necessary"
Senator Mcpherson Is equally certain that - sOmo
thing done. and lie is rine more explicit than
Mr. Reagan as to what that something" mus: os.
Among ether things he said "One hundred million dol
lars too much coming annually and must either
be disposed OF by increased expenditures. or the
necssy for It's expenditures avoided by not collecting
IL Neither party think advocate tho first methsd
and the question regarding the seeoad how the reduc
tIon can 10 effected For myself would favor bill taxi
ing on the tobacco aud making the balance OF tho
reduction ON other articles the tariff schedules
might name great many such articles but at present,
with the bill undeveloped, would prefer not 10 do 80.
Scw-Jersey Is q protection State and the Democrats
can't afford 20 advocate free trade sweeping
tariff reductions without losing her vote aud they will
need that vote. can't how Democratic victory
is 10 be figured up without NewJorsey and Connecticut
The reduction that Is advocated must be moderate and